Low Slung Bicyle Frame Suggestions

[Andybg]

I recently went out for a cycle ride with my Father. Something which I have not done since I was in my teens. He is in his early 70's and had one of his knees replaced about 3 years ago.

He is thinking of doing more cycling as a form of excercise and also as it allows him to use a scenic shortcut into town that is unavailable to cars.

The issue is that although he has no issues now turning the pedals he does have great difficulty gtting on and off the bike in respect to swinging his leg over.

I would have suggested a ladies frame but he is over 6 foot (6'2ish) so not sure what would be the best option for him.

He did get a folding bike but although easy to get on and off it is a bit on the rickety side for his 100kg.

Although he did like my Rohloff bike I think he is thinking more of a der budget

Any suggestions appreciated.

Regards

Andy

[JWestland]

The Dutch brand Gazelle has a really low instep bike for people with those issues. It's literally a U with two wheels each end it's that low

Pashley does roadsters they may have one that is tall enough. And as the Dutch can be quite tall...maybe there's a big enough size for you.

Shall I have a look for you for ladies bikes?

[Andybg]

I am not sure you will find a ladies bike that is big enough. He has like a 37" inside leg so a big bike needed.

Many thanks for the help

Andy

[peter jenkins]

Hi Andy,

The Moulton TSR series suits inside leg up to 36" according the brochure: http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models/TSR8.html

Maybe a bit of creativity with seatpost and stem length would stretch it to 37"

I have a TSR30 and think it's brilliant (in a different way to my Club Tour).

Cheers,

pj

[Andybg]

Those Moulton frames really are a work of art (or work of engineering depending how you look at it)

950ukp to 16500ukp makes a Thorn look decidedly low cost. LOL

Will add it to the list of possibilities although with no need for packing the bike down I think it will be a lot of extra cost for little practical gain.

Just as an aside - how have you found it for transporting? I do quite a lot of travelling and have considered a folding bike.

Cheers

Andy

[JimK]

http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-kruisframe-step-through

This is a bit like Andre's bike, notched down several levels. The 61 cm frame is big.

This bike also has a 65 cm option which is surely plenty big enough but it is not so low slung:

http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-kruisframe-aka-pastoorsfiets

[Andre Jute]

I like this bike for distinguished gentlemen approaching middle age: http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-kruisframe-step-through London dealer: http://www.bikefix.co.uk/shop/index.php

This my bike, based on the same frame: http://coolmainpress.com/AndreJute'sUtopiaKranich.pdf
 
Give my regards to your dad.

Andre Jute

EDIT: I see Jim is there already. Mine is 59mm and you can see that it is already a huge bike. You fit these bikes by choosing the frame which leaves the smallest amount of seat post showing when your legs are correctly extended on the pedals, and then adjusting the stem length and angle to suit your preferred back inclination. That results in everyone choosing big frames.

[JimK]

http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/workcycles-faqs-overviews/overview-fr8-transport-bikes/

Hmmm, here is a bike... says it can fit riders up to 7'3", very heavy, and very low slung.

[JimK]

I have the Transport Double-Tube:

http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-transport-double-tube

in the 61 cm size. Definitely a big bike, but I have just a 32 inch leg length. This bike comes in a 70 cm size which would be utterly huge. But it is not low slung.

With its upright seating posture, I ride perched way up high - I can look Hummer drivers in the eye, which really surprises them. But that was in Oregon... we don't see so many Hummers in upstate NY, or maybe its the economy!

[Andybg]

Thanks Guys

I have sent all the links over to him.

I am trying to keep the motivation going on the idea of him getting a new bike.

I will take some time and read your essay Andre - It looks fasinating.

Thanks

Andy

[JWestland]

http://www.fietsplaza.nl/stads-fietsen-dames-sparta-maxx-damesfiets-voor-extra-grote-mensen-p-1243.html

66 cm frame! If your dad likes it I can contact them if they ship to the UK. It's a typical Dutch bike, so it won't be super light, but you don't need special clothing, hub gear/mud guard means it's near indestructible etc etc.

Option 2 is a second hand 80s mixte from e-bay...they used to do male models in these so there might be a tall one knocking about.

[Andybg]

That is one big frame.

Should have never doubted your ability to find one!!!

Have forwarded on the info

Thanks again

Andy

[JWestland]

Might be dear, a mixte is a much lower instep and there's old racing mixtes on e-bay.

All depends on the budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Ladies-Raleigh-Wisp-Mixte-Frame-10-speed-Racer-Road-Bike-/281000983159?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item416cf6ba77

Way too small, but Peugeot has done male models. Will be a cheaper start compared to getting new Dutch Roadster and also lighter.

[Andybg]

Will keep a look out for the Mixte models.

I dont think the budget is an issue as long as he sees he is going to get use out of it.

Andy

[Danneaux]

Hi Andy!

I'm late to the party, having been occupied with non-cycling things this week (Yes! Really! It is tragic...) I was away and didn't see your thread till now.

I'm not sure about frame size, but if step-over height is an issue for your Dad, I don't think many bikes come lower than Biria Bicycles' Easy Boarding Series: http://www.biria.com/series/easy-boarding The stepover is as low as 6in/15.24cm. They're very popular with people who ride with rheumatoid arthritis and, yes, knee replacements -- at least in the early post-recovery days for the latter, when it is a real struggle to bend the knee far enough when raising a leg. Nice, too, following hip replacements, when there is considerable concern about rotating the joint outwards while muscle tension is low (pop-outs and dislocations result in some "discomfort" <= A polite, understated medical code word for agonizing pain)

I've actually tried one of these Biria Easy Boarders briefly, and was amazed it had *any* frame rigidity given the extremely low opening, but it really did amazingly well thanks to the use of very large-diameter tubing.

Tavara ( http://www.vanraam.co.uk/low-step-through-bike--+--senior-bicycle/itm/13934 ) make a low-standover bike with such a laid-back seat tube angle, it is possible to easily place both feet flat on the ground when stopped. This is also true of a number of semi-recumbent upright designs, many of which also share a low stepover.

Stevens of Germany make a nice, low-stepover frame that is remarkably light, shown here: http://www.stevensbikes.de/2010/index.php?bik_id=142&lang=en_US

Some of these are available with a pedelec/battery option, or can be easily converted. Looking at Andre's experience and that of others, a pedelec option might be a nice option for your father, and would certainly take some of the strain off his knees. Kalkhoff has some nice examples with bottom-bracket located motors, shown among their offerings here: http://www.kalkhoff-bikes.com/int/en/models/2012.html

There's a really nice roundup of bikes for the differently-abled in this PDF: www.getcycling.org.uk/media/bikes-not-barriers.pdf

Getcycling.org have a Disability Bike Festival with over 100 bicycle models to try out in person. See: http://www.getcycling.org.uk/media/BNB_POSTER.pdf ...and... http://www.getcycling.org.uk/specialneeds.php UK residents can request the show visit their immediate area. Details are here: http://bikesnotbarriers.org/ Getcycling is in York and has a contact page here: http://www.getcycling.org.uk/contact-us.php

There are also many <cough> recumbents which have a very low stepover as well. The difficulty for people with knee trouble can come from rising to stand from the very low riding position.

I hope this helps your father, Andy. It seems to me the more options and choices he has, the more likely he is to find the "best" solution for his needs. Please give him a hearty "well done!" for me on his persistence to ride again.

All the best,

Dan.
*Andy!* Here's a low-frame solution for your cargo and grandchild-carrying needs: http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/brut.php ...and... http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/childcarrying.php One of those and an Atlas trailer ( http://www.circecycles.com/products/atlas/ ), and you're set for anything. Or, one of these: http://clevercycles.com/blog/2011/09/22/xtravois-2-0-our-oregon-manifest-bike/